Knowing isn't enough: Menstrual symptoms drive perceived performance impacts in women's football.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Cross-sectional survey study
PubMed 41318313 · doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2025.11.007
What was done
A cross-sectional survey evaluated 147 Australian female football players. The survey assessed menstrual health literacy (MHL), menstrual cycle characteristics, contraceptive use, symptom count, and self-reported negative impacts on training performance, competition performance, and availability. Researchers analyzed associations between MHL, symptom count, and these perceived impacts.
What was found
MHL was not significantly associated with perceived menstrual cycle impacts on training performance (β = 0.29, 95% CI [-0.37, 0.97]). A higher menstrual symptom count was significantly associated with more frequent reports of negative training impacts (β = 0.09, 95% CI [0.05, 0.14]). Among non-contraceptive users, perceived negative impacts were reported for training performance (67% 'sometimes', 21% 'often'), competition performance (62% 'sometimes', 18% 'often'), and training availability (60% 'sometimes', 14% 'often').
Why it matters
These findings indicate that health literacy alone does not lessen perceived performance detriments, suggesting interventions should focus directly on symptom recognition and management in female athletes.
Limits
The study relies on a cross-sectional design and self-reported subjective perceptions rather than objective performance metrics. The sample was limited to 147 Australian footballers, limiting generalizability to other sports or athletic levels, and the abstract provides no data on potential confounding factors like training load or underlying gynecological disorders.
Cited by
- contradicts Survey data shows that women typically do not report overhauling or changing their training in response to menstrual symptoms.